Carrying On with Talking Pictures TV: Classic films showing this week!

 

1959 was a busy year for actress Liz Fraser. Liz made her screen breakthrough thanks to a certain little film comedy called I'm All Right Jack. The huge success of that movie guaranteed Liz a golden career in the very best of British film and television comedy over the next several decades. Two of Liz's early films, debuting the same year as the Boulting Brothers' classic, will be broadcast by Talking Pictures TV over the next few days.

The Night We Dropped a Clanger is a 1959 comedy film starring a prime cast of Brian Rix, Cecil Parker, William Hartnell and Leslie Phillips. A British secret agent is sent on a secret operation in occupied France during the Second World War but a diversionary tactic turns into a farcical tale of mistaken identity. The film features a notable supporting cast. Alongside the lovely Liz Fraser as Lulu, look out for Irene Handl, Hattie Jacques, Patrick Cargill, playwright Ray Cooney and a first screen appearance from future Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, playing Briggs.

You can catch this film on Talking Pictures TV at 12.05 today, 20th November. A specially filmed introduction from star Liz Fraser will be screened before the film.

 

Desert Mice, also released in 1959 is a British film comedy starring Alfred Marks and Sid James as the leaders of a group of ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War. The group manage to thwart a Nazi plan during their tour. The title of the film is a play on "Desert Rats". Liz Fraser co-stars as Edie alongside Irene Handl again, John Le Mesurier, Dora Bryan and Dick Bentley. Interestingly, Dora was actually a real life ENSA performer during the war. 

This film will be on Talking Pictures TV at 12.05 tomorrow, Tuesday 21st November. A specially filmed introduction from Liz will be screened just before the film.

 

I always enjoy seeing familiar Carry On faces like Liz, Dora and Leslie Phillips in other comedy films made around this time. Hope you enjoy them!

Enjoy!
  

You can watch Talking Pictures TV on: Virgin 445 / Freeview 81 / Sky Channel 343 / Freesat 306 / Youview 81

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